Class 564C
6-Cylinder
Doherty Compound Express Goods Locomotive
Designed by Jochann
Ketterik
Built in 1976 by RSR
Works, Bevice-Akohniçe, Ruhnia
The 4-10-4 of class
564C
represented both the ultimate development and the dead end of the
classical
Doherty
6-cylinder layout. Although the prototype locomotive hauled 1700 tons
gross
up Rovniebera bank at 100 kmh, on the face of it an outstanding
achievement,
the cost of this performance was all too apparent. Consumption of coal
and water was at least 25% higher than with the 564B. In addition,
maintenance
costs were higher and availability lower and it was these facts that
really
spelt doom for the 564C. A second locomotive, already on order, was
completed
before the trials were finished. The remainder were cancelled. The
grate
area was later reduced with firebricks, which improved the coal
consumption
somewhat, but the engines were living on borrowed time and were both
withdrawn
by 1982. The 564C was an expensive error that seriously endangered the
continuation of steam development on the RSR.
Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012